More celebrations for March

In addition to celebrating Forest's birthday, it feels like this month has offered more than the usual number or celebrations for our family. 

Celebration #1: March Madness

Okay, so this celebration was anticipated. The NCAA basketball tournament feels like an annual holiday in our house. Every year when it rolls around, we uphold the tradition of having Ramona make picks for her very own bracket. This year, Mika got to join in the tradition for the first time.

 

Ramona talked Mika through some of the more difficult picks

 In the end, our baby chose West Virginia as the National Champion . . .

 . . . and Ramona chose Georgetown.

Ramona's bracket

 Neither of the sisters did particularly well with their picks overall, but they did correctly predict a couple of upsets in the first round.


Celebration #2: Skiing on the Greens
You might say Forest and I celebrated St. Patrick's Day this year--by dropping off the kids with some friends and spending a half-day skiing at Eldora.

 The snow was less than ideal--but the weather was nice, and I was excited to graduate to the green slopes after a couple of runs on the bunny slope. I still have a lot to learn, but at least being on skis feels more like recreation now, and less like I'm just wearing clown shoes.

 

 Celebration #3: No more Mortgage

A picture text from our old neighbor in Iowa

 At the beginning of the month, we decided to accept an offer on our house in Iowa. This was the first and only offer we got since the property went on the market last September, and although it wasn't the price of our dreams, we felt ready to take it and move on. By some miracle, our buyer closed even earlier than originally planned (which is almost impossible these days) and since then we've felt considerable relief and freedom from the bonds of long-distance home ownership.

Celebrate!

32 going on 17

 The head of the house turned 32 this past week. Not long before that, at a church basketball game, someone asked what grade he was in--as in--what grade in high school. May you always stay young, Mr. Dixon.

And here, to help you extend your health as long as possible, here is some bacon-wrapped chicken, stuffed with cream cheese . . .

 

. . . ok, now we'll dump some creamy garlic sauce on top before we bake it. . .

 . . . I guess we can throw some vegetables on the plate . . .

 . . . and for dessert, how about a rich lemon cream tart? We can add berries if you like.

Happy Birthday! Thanks for taking us on so many adventures and watching out for us girls.

Love,
The princesses and their manager